11 Secret Ingredients That Will Make You a Better Cook

Elevate your cooking in an instant with help from these secret ingredients.

Pomegranate molasses

Most often found in Middle Eastern cuisine, this tangy, flavorful syrup can be stirred into iced teas or cocktails, or drizzled into dips like hummus and baba ghanoush to add a burst of acidity and sweetness. Make it the star of the show by using it to glaze or marinade meats—it will add more complex flavors without making your dish taste too fruity.

Miso paste

Delicious in soups, miso has a variety of applications and nutritional benefits. Thin it with some water and then toss it with vegetables or meats before cooking for a salty, sweet, and savory dish. The paste can also be added as a thickener to stews and gravies, or mixed with melted butter and used to coat fish fillets before roasting.

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Shutterstock / Catarina Belova

Sea salt

Salt may be a kitchen staple, but your cooking game deserves more love than the plain table variety. Flaky sea salt can be used to top cookies or brownies to make them taste straight from the bakery, added as a finishing touch to meat (like these maple-glazed pork chops), or sprinkled onto salads for additional seasoning and crunch. There are many varieties, so familiarizing yourself with the different options is a great way to upgrade your recipes.